Many in Omaha were on edge when the option decisions came out earlier this week regarding the various team and player options that were held in Omaha.
With both Francisco Arredondo and Angel Zalapa having options attached to their future in Omaha, and Omaha keeping their cards close to their chest on their plans, it was extremely unclear of what the plan was.
Quickly, fans learned that Omaha would be paying Arredondo’s buyout option of $3,000,000 instead of paying him what would have been $8,500,000 in the 2054 season. It was an eventful season for Arrendono who signed with Omaha in March. While with the club he had his 1,000th run batted in, and 1,000th run scored. He also belted his 300th career home run and 2,000th career hit. He finished second in the 2053 FL Comeback Player of the Year voting. This year he had a 119 OPS+ which led to a 2.5 WAR. He played the field for 100 games as well finished with a -6.5 ZR and a .965 eff at second base. He now heads to free agency, where it is likely he will be looking for another 2-3 year deal to finish up his playing career. This will be his 7th team since 2049.
So with the team declining on Arredondo, that meant Angel Zalapa was likely returning, right? Well…many forgot that Zalapa had an opt-out as well. The first domino needed for him to stay happened, as Zalapa decided to not opt out and remain in Omaha on his $13,000,000 salary for the 2054 season.
Now, here is where it gets weird (or savy, depending on hwo you look at it). Omaha decided to decline his option and pay him $4,000,000 instead, meaning Zalapa was set to be a free agent. Zalapa had an up and down season, finishing with an OPS+ of 50 and -0.5 WAR in his first 52 games with Long Beach. When he came to Omaha, however, he warmed up with a 100 OPS+(average to any hitter in the BBA), and thanks to his impressive defense managed a 1.7 WAR with a 6.0 ZR in 51 games at second base for Omaha.
Now with Zalapa set to be a free agent, Omaha pulled a fast one, actually offering him a contract extension despite declining the team option. Zalapa reportedly has agreed to the deal, with it being a 2 year $17,000,000 deal that will pay him $7,000,000 in 2054. This was a $6,000,000 decrease than what he was set to earn and important when playing the salary cap gymnastics that Omaha has famously played, meaning despite Omaha paying him $4,000,000 as a buyout, they were still $2,000,000 ahead of things in the long run. The second year of his new deal pays him $10,000,000 and has a $3,000,000 buyout, meaning worst case if Omaha decides to move on from him next season this entire chain of events cost the team an extra $1,000,000 to effectively lower their 2054 salary cap number by $6,000,000.
